No Good Reason

I normally never make negative comments. Just saying... I do not understand anyone... old or young... posting stuff on line... and then expect not to attract negative attention to themselves... and then they act like they are an unlikely victim... Please... it is like they say... if you cannot withstand the heat, stay out of the kitchen... now bullying is a valid topic of discussion, however... in this episode, the young lady wished for attention... and she received attention. Frankly, if you cannot withstand criticism... maybe just share your opinions with your close local friends... and not post random thoughts on-line... oy vey... no good reason... ya...

This has been a great episode, as needed in times like these. The message it brought across was vivid and clear to all and that no one stands alone, SVU really did a good one with Benson and the mini-session in the hall with the teenagers. You cannot watch the final 5 minutes of this episode without being in agreement or admitting to being in a similar situation or knowing someone in a similar situation or even questioning what's going on right now and asking why aren't people speaking up. This shows that everyone is going through the same thing whether some want to admit it or not. To me, personally the concluding 5 minutes sealed the deal. Well done! This episode is right up there guys. Whether some don't agree with the story-line or whether the scenario wouldn't be how persons would act in reality. What stood firm throughout the entire episode was a message, if you missed it then your focus was clearly misguided. Great Job @NBC

Oyy. This episode epitomizes what is bad about latter-years SVU. The topic is meaty enough, but the writers are so intent on tipping the scales that it devolves into a predictable and unrealistic morality play. What lawyer would let their client confess without a deal? I had my problems with early SVU--sometimes it seemed that Stabler was completely out of control and frankly, scary--but I'd take anger-management-problems-Stabler any day of the week over preachy, warmed-over dreck with Benson as the "school marm in chief." And the soap opera with the adoption right after the investigation for child abuse? At least, Amanda's sister doesn't show up. That would really take the cake. Good grief.

Olivia's exercise at the end of the episode sums it all up.

The story aims to raise awareness about bullying and community pressure. The incident in the story is just one example of the insensitivity among young people.

It is an article in which Svu takes responsibility in raising awareness and educating the community.

The script is correct. The purpose of education and message has not been brought to our attention.

"No Good Reason" may not have struck me as a great episode on first watch and there are things that it could have done better. But it also had a lot of good things that made it one of the better first time watches of 'Law and Order: Special Victims Unit's' Season 19. Which on the whole didn't really impress me massively, even the best episodes were only very good and not the brilliance that the show at its best was capable of, and had a few major problems that were sadly recurring.

On rewatch, "No Good Reason" still didn't strike me as a great episode story-wise. It also though still had a lot of good things and there are plenty of reasons to watch what is for me easily the second best episode of the four up to this point of the season ("Gone Fishin" being the best). Subject matter wise, it is one of the bravest and most disturbing of Season 19, and credit is due to the episode for even attempting to tackle it and even more importantly doing really well with it.

Am going to begin with the things that could have been done better. This is an episode that ends stronger than it begins, which is the opposite of quite a lot of the latter seasons episodes where there is so much promise to begin with but the endings underwhelm. Here in "No Good Reason" the beginning goes on for too long where Mandy comes over as self-absorbed. The pacing is very uneven in the episode, sometimes perfect but there were too many times where it felt dragged out with the investigation seeming thin and the truth is on the predictable side

Similarly, everything where the perpetrator is caught and how the conviction is gotten felt rushed and unrealistic, as well as being done on quite preachy means. Olivia's attitude has really been alienating me for some time and it still does. Her subplot continues to be a soapy distraction and could easily have been left out.

Lots is extremely well done however. Expectedly, the production values are slick, the editing especially having come on quite a bit from when the show first started (never was it a problem but it got more fluid overtime). The music is sparingly used and never seemed melodramatic, the theme tune easy to remember as usual. It is especially good at the end, which is one of the most beautifully scored individual scenes of the latter seasons in my opinion. The direction is sympathetic enough without being too low key.

Furthermore, there is plenty of thought provoking dialogue that isn't awkward or cheesy. The story is miles away from perfect, but credit is due for so bravely addressing such a difficult and timely topic, one that resonated with me as a bullying victim myself, and not sugar coating. The ending is truly touching, was left in tears and also inspired. Some find it preachy, not to me. The acting is uniformly great, especially in the second half. Mariska Hargitay does give one of her better performances here of this season.

All in all, not great but appreciated it a good deal and there is quite a lot to recommend. 6/10.